Teams Combine for 30 Runs as Drillers Take Series Finale
SPRINGFIELD, MO – The Tulsa Drillers won the series finale 16-14 against the Springfield Cardinals Sunday evening at Hammons Field. There were four lead changes throughout the game, but an eighth-inning rally that accounted for seven runs helped the Drillers win. Brandon Lewis led the way with a pair of
SPRINGFIELD, MO – The Tulsa Drillers won the series finale 16-14 against the Springfield Cardinals Sunday evening at Hammons Field. There were four lead changes throughout the game, but an eighth-inning rally that accounted for seven runs helped the Drillers win. Brandon Lewis led the way with a pair of home runs and six RBI. Relief pitcher Guillermo Zuniga picked up the win, as he pitched three innings and recorded three strikeouts.
Jose Hernandez appeared first on the mound for the Drillers to start the game as an opener. He worked just the first inning and allowed three hits and a run.
The first run for the Drillers came in the second inning when a wild pitch with the bases loaded allowed Justin Yurchak to score. Later in the inning, an RBI single from Chris Betts and a sacrifice fly from Leonel Valera put two more runs on the board to give the Drillers their first lead of the game.
The Cardinals responded with a pair of runs in the second inning off an error and RBI double to tie things back up.
An RBI single from Yurchak and a three-run homer from Lewis would give the Drillers a 7-3 lead in the top of the fifth inning.
The Cardinals had success in the bottom of the fifth inning with six runs of their own to regain the lead with the help of two more defensive errors by the Drillers.
Lewis came through again in the top of the seventh inning, as he increased his home run total to 11 on the year and tied the ball game at 9-9 with a two-run shot.
The Cardinals broke the tie in the bottom of the seventh with three more runs to take a 12-9 lead.
The Drillers took the final lead of the night thanks to a big seven-run eighth inning. The first run came after Yurchak was walked with the bases loaded. The following six runs came from RBI singles from Lewis, Mann, Valera, and Jonny DeLuca.
Keegan Curtis was the final pitcher to take the mound for the Drillers. Springfield added a two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough as the Drillers held on to win 16-14.
HIGHLIGHTS AND HAPPENINGS:
*Lewis finished the night 3-for-5 with six RBI, four runs, and a walk. His two home runs in the game brought his season total to 11 and extended the team’s league-high home run total to 125. The six RBI matched Michael Busch and Jacob Amaya for the most in a game for a Tulsa batter this season.
*Yurchak was a perfect 4-for-4 to increase his hit streak to 12 straight games. He is now tied with Andy Pages for the longest hitting streak from a Tulsa batter this season.
*Mann finished with a 2-for-3 night at the plate with two runs, two walks, and an RBI.
*Zuniga picked up his second win from the bullpen and improved his record to 2-2.
*Six pitchers saw the mound for the Drillers.
*Tulsa matched a season-high with 16 runs scored. The Drillers scored 16 runs against Springfield on April 23.
* Each team walked 11 batters and combined for 22 total walks in the game.
*The Drillers matched a season high with three errors in the outing, while the Cardinals did not have any.
UP NEXT: The Drillers will have a four-day break before beginning a nine-game home stand on Friday, July 22 that will include three games against the Wichita Wind Surge and six games against the Arkansas Travelers. First pitch for Friday’s opener is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at ONEOK Field.